Smyrna pitcher Jessica Anderson. Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh

Smyrna High senior pitcher Jessica Anderson was named the state Player of the Year and was among eight Henlopen Conference players who made the first team on this year’s All-State softball squad.

Senior outfielder Kaelyn Press also made the first team from state champion Smyrna, with six other downstate schools having one first-team selection apiece.

Other Henlopen Conference players selected to the first team were Lake Forest third baseman Brooke Glanden, Indian River outfielder Julia Bomhardt, Sussex Tech outfielder Jakayla Sample, Delmar third baseman Autumn Boothe, Dover utility player Katie Dunlap and Sussex Central third baseman Taylor Evick.

Also, Dover’s Gerald Jester was named the state Coach of the Year.

All-State team

First team

P–Jessica Anderson, Sr. Smyrna

C-Mallory Weir, Jr. Appoquinimink

1B-Brooke Miller, Sr. Appoquinimink

2B-Natalie Paoli, Jr. Caravel

3B-Brooke Glanden, Sr. Lake Forest

SS-Tayler Vitola, So. Appoquinimink

OF-Julia Bomhardt, Sr. Indian River

OF-Kaelyn Press, Sr. Smyrna

OF-Jakalya Sample, Sr. Sussex Tech

AL-P-Delani Sheehan, So. DMA

AL-OF-Bella Hagen, Jr. Newark Charter

AL–1B-Zoey Jones, So. Padua

AL-C–Nicole Marcon, Jr. Caravel

AL-3B– Autumn Boothe, Fr. Delmar

AL-SS-Annie Penrod, So. Archmere

AL-UT–Katie Dunlap, Sr. Dover

AL-P–Caitlin Pontak, Sr. Newark Charter

AL-3B-Taylor Evick, Sr. Sussex Central

AL-OF–Katie Twardarski, Jr. Padua

AL-3B–Clare Henry, So. DMA

AL-P–Gracelyn Frost, Fr. Conrad

Player of the Year: Jessica Anderson, Smyrna

Coach of the Year: Gerald Jester, Dover

Second team

P-Olivia Farris, So. DMA

C-Courtney Paolantonio, So. Red Lion

P-Kaisey Reed, Sr. Sussex Central

2B-Darby Brennan, Sr. Milford

P-Teagan Bradley, Fr. Mt. Pleasant

SS-Ashley Steiner, So. Wilm. Charter

P-Katie Burawski, Jr. Polytech

SS-Brooklynne Johnson, Sr. Hodgson

P-Savannah Sheets, Jr. Caravel

2B-Kayla Wilson, So. Smyrna

P-Kourtney McNatt, So. Appoquinimink

P-Taylor Wroten, Jr. Sussex Tech

SS-Caitlin Baxter, Jr. Padua

1B-Morgan Burton, Sr. Sussex Central

Honorable mention

OF-Morgan Petty, Jr. Milford

C-Courtney Kohel, Jr. Milford

P-Katie Starhe, Sr. Lake Forest

OF-Taylor Gillis, Jr. Wilm. Charter

UT-Indira Purnell, Sr. William Penn

3B-Alex Musial, Jr. Padua

C-Madison Drummond, Sr. Smyrna

1B-Alexis Novotny, Sr. DMA

OF-Alicia Bruce, So. Appoquinimink

3B-Ali Clemons, Sr. Middletown

SS-Alexis Moore, so. Smyrna

3B-Andrea Johnson, Sr. Appoquinimink

2B-Nikki Elliott, So. DMA

OF-Kandice Schlabach, Fr. Delm. Christian

OF-Paige Lynch, Jr. Delmar

SS-Gracie Fetterman, Fr. Delm. Christian

OF-Val Clark, Sr. McKean

OF-Gabby Frabrizzio, Sr. Padua